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June 3 practice quotes: Brown, Fraser, Williams

Dustin Brown, on whether the team’s anxiety level has risen:
“We were down two-nothing against St. Louis. The only difference is we’re in the Western Conference Finals now. With each round there’s a little more pressure. It’s a matter of handling that individually and collectively. We’re back on home ice where we’ve played very well this year. Today we looked at some video, what we can do better. It’s a matter of executing.

Brown, on whether it helps that the team has rebounded from a 0-2 deficit before:
“I think you can draw on the fact that we’ve been in this situation before in the sense that the series is long from over for our mindset. It’s about playing the game. I mean, we try to cut it in half tomorrow night. We’re not worried about Game 4, Game 5. We’re thinking about tomorrow night, your first shift, first play you have to make, then you go from there.

Brown, on what the team has to do better in Game 3:
“I think neutral zone. We had a lot of turnovers in the neutral zone. Chicago is a very good checking team. They’re not an overly physical team, though. Their transition game is probably one of the better transition games in the league. Making them go 200 feet for all their chances will go a long way. I think that will come out in the game.

Brown, on the team’s fatigue level, compared to last year at this time:
“I think it’s fair to say we’re probably not as fresh as we were last year. We had four, five days off between every series. We haven’t played as many games as this time last year. At the same time, this time of year, when you’re going through it, you’re not thinking, Oh, I’m tired. You’re reloading, getting ready to go again. It’s more of a mental, getting your head wrapped around it, than it is physically, I think.”

Brown, on what makes the Kings a stronger team at home:
“It’s hard to say. We played better hockey at home. I think part of it is we get on the forecheck better. When you look around the league, this is probably the one year, I’m not sure of the percentages, but I’m sure it’s pretty high, league wide, it’s close to 70%, I think. Teams feed off their energy at home. Playing in front of our fans is great. Just getting off to a good start.”

Brown, on ways to remain fresh in a three-games-in-four-nights situation:
“Well, a day like today, again, about getting your rest. It’s been a long couple days playing back to back, the travel. Getting back to square one today, then tomorrow you start focusing on the mental side of things, getting yourself reloaded.”

Colin Fraser, on the taxing nature of playoff hockey:
“Yeah, every team’s in the same boat, though. Every team is playing lots of games. Maybe last year we didn’t play as many. It’s part of the playoffs, part of the run. Every team is going to play a lot of games in a short amount of time. As far as travel goes, as far as the schedule goes, they’re in the same boat as us. There’s no real advantage or disadvantage.”

Fraser, on the team’s injuries:
“Injuries are part of the game. You never want to see anyone get hurt. Get Stolly back, Rick goes down. He’s a big part of our team obviously. Never want to see a guy get hurt. With that being said, there’s nothing you can do about it either. Other guys have to step up and have the opportunity to play more, a bigger role.”

Fraser, on the approach being down two-nothing:
“I think it’s a good thing we’re back on home ice obviously. We’ve been good at that through the playoffs, really the whole season. We have to take advantage of it, of course. Nothing we can do about the first two games. Got to move forward, iron out the wrinkles, get back to work. Definitely one shift, one period at a time. The result in the end is hopefully positive.”

Fraser, on the team putting the first two games of the series behind them:
“I mean, St. Louis series we were down two games right away. I mean, we can still talk about the games, but at the end of the day we lost both games. We have to put them behind us. Can’t dwell on it. Especially last night, I mean, we obviously weren’t good enough. We have to move forward. Obviously we did some video today. We just simply got to be better.”

Fraser, on the continued challenge of responding to adversity in the postseason:
“We’re certainly not making it easy on ourselves, right? I don’t know. You got to find a way. Playoffs, playing lots of games in a short amount of time, you have to find a way to dig in whether you’re tired or not. You really don’t have a choice. We know we got a good team. We’ve obviously proven we’ve got a good team last year and this year. I think we’ve answered to the adversity we had this year. We just got to do it again.”

Fraser, on what the team had learned from a video session:
“It’s no secret how both teams play. They’re a fast team. All four lines can skate. They really feed off our turnovers. They get it up right away, whether it’s D to D, right up. In my opinion, they, more than any other team, get that stretch guy stretched right now. They have so much speed, they get on the forecheck obviously very well. Number one, no turnovers. Can’t turn the puck over, because they feed right into that. I think simplicity, get the puck deep, make them go back and get pucks, make them play defense. Less time and space will mean less speed for them.

Fraser, on how to avoid “taking things for granted” at home:
“Match-ups, I think. We got to put who we want out against their top players. It’s a big part of the game, especially in hockey. You got to win those match-ups, too, right? Whatever line you’re matched up, you have to be better than. Can’t take it for granted on home ice. It’s hard work. It’s not going to be easy by any means. I guess we got to get back to basics, get back to how we were playing before, like Game 7, Game 5 of San Jose.”

Fraser, on adjustments players have made due to injuries:
“Carter has played center. Before his NHL career started, he was a centerman. He can play anywhere. Toff is in and out of the lineup. Every time he comes in, he flourishes and does well. He’s a young kid, but he’s a smart player. You put him with guys like Carter, they’re going to make something happen. They’re shooting, offensive type players that are creative and can get the job done.”

Fraser, on whether he was surprised by Chicago’s fast start, and why it happened:
“I mean, that’s their identity as a team. Quickness on the ice. They got off to a better start. We shouldn’t be surprised. We talk about it all the time. We know what they’re going to do. We just have to have better starts. We talked about it in San Jose when we played in San Jose. They seemed to jump all over us, as well. For whatever reason, we weren’t quite ready or quite as sharp as we should have been. Sometimes, like last night, it’s almost too little too late kind of thing. The old cliché, you got to have a good start, it’s huge. Sets the tone for the whole game.”

Fraser, on how a team battles discouragement:
“It’s adversity. I think adversity can be a good thing sometimes if you can get through it. I mean, injuries are part of hockey. Every team’s had their injuries at some point. Things like that, there’s nothing you can do. There’s nothing you can do also about the first two games. You can sit there and dwell on it or move forward, just play our best game. We have to bring our best game in Game 3.”

Justin Williams, on heading into Game 3 down two-nothing:
“We’ve been here, what, three weeks ago. Obviously it’s not do or die tomorrow, but it is. So home ice has been something that we’ve been able to rely on and have in our back pocket if we have struggled on the road, and we have. We’re going to need to use it tomorrow.”

Williams, on why there has been a disparity between playing at home and on the road:
“I don’t know. Tell you the truth, I’m not sure why we went 10-and-1 last year on the road. Obviously preparation is key, a lot of other factors come into it. But we’re certainly not out of it. We’re going to do the best we can to cut this lead in half and go from there. Our focus is one game. That’s what it is when you’re down two. Cut it in half, then the next day you try again if you’re successful.”

Williams, on why there haven’t been second chances offensively:
“I just finished watching video of the game and there’s a lot of neutral zone play. There’s a lot of in and outs. There’s not a lot of sustained pressure. Give them credit, they’re a good checking team. They check you and try to get you frustrated. In turn, that’s what we do. But they’ve been more successful at it than we have. Do I feel we played a better game in Game 1? Yes, but that’s what losers say.”

Williams, on whether he expects any fatigue with three-games-in-four-days and a travel day:
“No, I don’t think so. Maybe in the regular season, maybe a little bit more malaise. Three and four come playoff time, you get up for every game. Your heart’s pumping. You’re a little bit more excited. Every play means a little bit more. I don’t think fatigue will have anything to do with anything tomorrow.”

Williams, on the team playing with uncertainty in the lineup, which didn’t happen last year:
“Last year is last year. A lot of good components that go into a Stanley Cup winning team. The first one is being a healthy team. But good teams find ways to win through adversity and build through that. We were able to win without Jarret Stoll for a large chunk of the San Jose series. We were able to win, got him back. We’re nursing injuries just like everyone else is. If we get Mike back, whenever that may be, I don’t know, we’re going to need to hold the fort until then.”

Williams, on whether the team is “anxious” to get back on home ice:
“I think anytime you lose, you just want to get back out there and play again. I lose a game, I want to play another one right away. I want to redeem myself, make a difference. Certainly confidence is high for us coming back home. Been a lot of success here. Guys have played well here. We’ve won every which way. We’re going to need to continue that against an extremely good team.”

Williams, on whether the team wants to prevent using home ice as “a crutch”:
“It’s not a rite of passage you’re going to win at home. We’ve earned it, especially against this team. Whether we get in there and grind to a 1 0 victory or win by more than one goal, at the end of the day, it just needs to get done tomorrow. Confidence in our dressing room, we’ve been here before. We’ve been a successful team before. You look around our room, there’s a lot of familiar faces. Confidence in one another is key, especially at this crucial point.”

Williams, on challenges presented by Chicago:
“It’s the way they play. They can pressure. They have a 1 2 2 4 forecheck that preys on turnovers and they have a lot of speedy forwards and defensemen that are able to jump the other way quickly. You saw that last night. A couple mistakes, end up in our net. You know, that is what it is. Sometimes it’s not going to be that clean coming through the neutral zone. It’s going to be a little sloppy, third efforts, then maybe you’re going to catch them. But we did some better things yesterday and we’re going to continue to get better.”

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#27 | 6′ 1″ | 210 lb | Age: 29

Bio

Bio: Martinez was drafted by the LA Kings in the 2007 Draft, while playing for Miami University. He has since become a two-time Stanley Cup champion and the 17th man in Stanley Cup playoff history to score the Cup-winning goal in overtime.

#11 | 6′ 3″ | 224 lb | Age: 29

Bio

As the 11th overall pick in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft, Kopitar became the first Slovenian to play in the NHL. Kopitar has spent his entire NHL career with the Kings, and following the 2015–16 season, was named the Kings’ captain. Noted for both his offensive and defensive play, Kopitar was awarded the Frank J. Selke Trophy as the best defensive forward in the NHL in 2016.

#8 | 6′ 1″ | 195 lb | Age: 26

Bio

Bio: Doughty is a Canadian defenceman who was selected second overall by the Kings in the 2008 Draft. Doughty made his NHL debut in 2008 as an 18-year-old and was named to the All-Rookie Team. He is a two-time Stanley Cup champion with the Kings, a two-time Olympic gold medallist with the Canadian national team, and a Norris Trophy finalist.

#73 | 6′ 1″ | 200 lb | Age: 24

Bio

Toffoli is a Canadian professional ice hockey forward, drafted by the Kings in the second round of the 2010 Draft. Toffoli scored his first career NHL goal in his second game in a 4–0 victory over the Phoenix Coyotes in 2013. He was also named the 2012–13 AHL All-Rookie Team.VIEW TYLER TOFFOLI POSTS

Jeff Carter

#77 | 6′ 4″ | 215 lb | Age: 31

Bio

Carter began his hockey career playing in the Ontario Hockey League in Canada before joining the AHL and playing for the Philadelphia Flyers. He was then traded to the Colombus Blue jackets before joining the LA Kings in 2012, where he has since won two Stanley Cups with the Kings.

#32 | 6′ 1″ | 218 lb | Age: 30

Bio

Bio: Quick is the current goaltender for the LA Kings and was selected by Los Angeles at the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. Previously, Quick was a silver medalist with USA at the 2010 Winter Olympics. He’s won two Stanley Cup championships with the Kings, along with being the most recent goaltender to be awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the 2012 Stanley Cup playoffs.